Chapter 11: Forgetting

Question 1

Cue-dependent forgetting

Answer 1

Forgetting that results from the absence of cues that were present during training.

Question 2

Declarative memory

Answer 2

Memories that can be declared or expressed in words. Said to be knowing that. Also called explicit memory. (C’. nondeclarative memory.)

Question 3

Delayed matching to sample

Answer 3

A method of measuring forgetting in which the opportunity to match a sample follows a retention interval. Abbreviated DMTS.

Question 4

Episodic memory

Answer 4

Memory for personally experienced events. Also called autobiographical or event memory.

Question 5

Extinction method

Answer 5

A method of measuring forgetting by comparing the rate of extinction after a retention interval with the rate of extinction immediately after training.

Question 6

Fluency

Answer 6

Number of correct responses per minute. In general, a fluent performancee is smooth, accurate, and relatively rapid. Also called automaticity.

Question 7

Forgetting

Answer 7

Deterioration in learned behavior following a period without practice. (C’. extinction; reminiscence.)

Question 8

Free recall

Answer 8

A method of measuring forgetting that consists of providing the opportunity to perform the learned behavior. (C’. prompted recall.)

Question 9

Gradient degradation

Answer 9

A method of measuring forgetting in which a behavior is tested for generalization before and after a retention interval. A flattening of the generalization gradient indicates forgetting.

Question 10

Long-term memory

Answer 10

Memory for events following a retention interval longer than one minute and sometimes many years. (C’. short-term memory.)

Question 11

Method of loci

Answer 11

A mnemonic system in which each item to be recalled is placed in a distinctive spot in an imagined scene, such as a walking path.

Question 12

Mnemonic

Answer 12

Any technique for aiding recall.

Question 13

Mnemonic system

Answer 13

Any of several systems for aiding recall, including the method of loci and the peg word system.

Question 14

Nondeclarative memory

Answer 14

Memory that cannot be declared or expressed in words. Pavlovian conditioning is one example; another is procedural memory. Also called implicit memory.

Question 15

Overlearning

Answer 15

The continuation of training beyond the point required to produce one errorless performance.

Question 16

Paired associate learning

Answer 16

A learning task involving pairs of words or other stimuli in which the subject is presented with the first item of a pair and is expected to produce the second item.

Question 17

Peg word system

Answer 17

A mnemonic system in which each of the first n integers is associated with a particular image (a peg), and each item to be recalled is placed on a peg.

Question 18

Proactive interference

Answer 18

Forgetting caused by learning that occurred prior to the behavior in question.

Question 19

Procedural memory

Answer 19

Memory for procedures. Procedural memory is said to involve knowing how. It is a kind of nondeclarative or implicit memory. Popularly referred to as muscle memory, though the memory does not reside in muscles.

Question 20

Prompted, or cued, recall

Answer 20

A method of measuring forgetting in which hints (prompts) about the behavior to be performed are provided.

Question 21

Recognition

Answer 21

A method of measuring forgetting in which the subject is required to identify stimuli experienced earlier.

Question 22

Relearning method

Answer 22

A method of measuring forgetting in which a behavior is learned to criterion before and after a retention interval. Also called the savings method.

Question 23

Reminiscence

Answer 23

Improvement in performance following a retention interval.

Question 24

Retention interval

Answer 24

The time between training and testing for forgetting.

Question 25

Retroactive interference

Answer 25

Forgetting caused by learning that occurred subsequent to the behavior in question. (

Question 26

Semantic memory

Answer 26

Memory for information about the world. It is a kind of declarative memory.

Question 27

Short-term memory

Answer 27

Memory for events following a retention interval shorter than one minute, often a matter of seconds. C’. long-term memory.

Question 28

State-dependent learning

Answer 28

Learning that occurs during a particular physiological state (such as alcoholic intoxication) and is lost when that physiological state passes.